Article excerpt

CANADA'S top salesman - Prime Minister Jean Chretien - has just
finished barnstorming across China on a trade trip that has
irritated human-rights activists and enthused Canadian executives
as the deals pour in.

This week, Canadian executives and Chinese officials signed 54
contracts and agreements in principle valued by Canadian officials
at $8.6 billion (US$6.3 billion). The gold prize appeared to come
on Tuesday when China signed a memorandum of understanding toward
the purchase of two Canadian-designed nuclear reactors worth $3.5
billion.

Standing on the steps of China's Great Wall, Mr. Chretien told
a gaggle of Canadian reporters that the deals from the trip would
create thousands of jobs in Canada, where the unemployment rate is
10 percent.

"If you compare the level of activity that we will generate
with {that of} any trip organized by any other nation, we will have
done extremely well," the prime minister said.

China is one of the world's hottest export markets, with an
economy growing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent annually. But until
recently, Canadian businesses have not had much success getting a
foot in the door. China had more direct investment in Canada at the
end of 1993 ($378 million), than Canada had in China ($260
million).

From the start of the trip, Canada wanted to show the Chinese
that it is serious. Chretien's huge "Team Canada" tour has
involved an entourage of more than 350 business leaders, as well as
nine out of 10 Canadian provincial premiers. Quebec Premier Jacques
Parizeau did not go. Reportedly, the massive showing impressed
Chinese leaders.

"Today marks a new era in Canada-China trade relations,"
Chretien exulted after the deals were penned. "This catapults
trade with China into new levels."

Among the announced deals:

* Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., the government-owned
corporation, signed a pact with China National Nuclear Corp. that
AECL officials say will lead to "serious negotiations" on the
sale of two 700 megawatt nuclear reactors. Early reports
misconstrued the signing as a commercial contract.